Compare towns

Ripton vs Erwin vs Chester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Erwin has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureRiptonErwinChester
People
Population
508Lowest
7,965Highest
2,992
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
43.8±2Lowest
13% above U.S.
49.7±4.7Highest
28% above U.S.
Chester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Erwin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.8%±7.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
49.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$88,333±$16k
9% above U.S.
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
Ripton and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$223,700±$26kLowest
33% below U.S.
$232,900±$44k
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,271±$136Highest
10% below U.S.
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$5,829Highest
87% above U.S.
$4,262Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±14Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Erwin and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
15 minLowest
43% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #431 of 484 in NY #49 of 70 in VT
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town None in town None in town Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.